Venezuela’s legislature has approved an amnesty bill that could potentially free people detained during previous administrations. But a human rights group calls it limited and is demanding the release of all people it deems political prisoners. After the bill’s passage on Thursday, interim President Delcy Rodriguez signed it into law. She said it will enable Venezuela to shed hatred and intolerance and open the door for reconciliation.

 

US President Donald Trump has been urging Rodriguez to release political prisoners. She assumed the current post after a US military operation led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

 

At a news conference yesterday, a local human rights group criticised what it called the law’s limited scope of application. It demanded the swift release of more than 600 people it classifies as political prisoners. The group added that the law is meaningless unless the apparatus of oppression has been dismantled. It called for reform of the judicial system, including prosecutors and courts, which it says have been complicit in political oppression.